Roof and wall construction



June 20, 1944. w NOQNAN 2,352,116

ROOF AND WALL CONSTRUCTION Fil ed July 13, 1942 iHVEHTOR 7 w/yaz/yr 14/ Nw/m/y AGENT Patented June 20, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROOF AND WALL CONSTRUCTION Vincent W. Noonan, La Sallc, Ill. Application July 13, 1942, Serial No. 450,663

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved roof and wall construction, particularly to those using a tile member made of vitreous tile, metal or composition, and which may be used as a new construction or to recover an old roof or wall.

An object of this invention is to avoid the excessive weight of the conventional tile which often requires strengthening of the roof supports so as to withstand the load.

Another object is to provide a construction which is easily laid and has a minimum number of parts in a unit assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide component parts which are simple in design so as to hold the cost of the roof to a reasonable figure. This object is especially important when tile is used, as it must be as simple as possible to avoid the high cost incident to an elaborate shape.

Another object is to furnish component parts which have no critical dimensions that would make sorting or individual matching of parts necessary.

Another object is to provide a roof which is rigid enough to be free from troublesome rattling owing to loose tiles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction which will lend itself to variation in the amount of surface exposed to the weather. This variation is often desired to allow adjustment of the number of courses laid. With some constructions disclosed by the prior art, the exposed portion of the tiles is fixed, making adjustment impossible.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be obvious after a study of the following description Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a view of the roof construction,

Fig. 2 is a view of the sub-member,

Fig. 3 is a view of the tile member.

This construction may be applied to either roofs or walls, and either on new work or when covering old surfaces. It comprises a tapered member 5 which is preferably of wood. This member is tapered similar to the conventional shingle, and may be supplied in random widths. The front end 6 which is thickest, is tapered inwardly at an acute angle relative to the upper surface of the sub-member 5. This angular end 6 makes a solid assembly possible, and provides a roof or wall which is free of rattle.

When laying a roof using this invention, a spacer (l) is first nailed to the edge of the roof to provide the correct angle for the first course of 55 tiles. Subsequent courses will then assume the correct angle. The first course ofsub-members 5 is laid on spacer l and fastened with nails 8 atthe thin end. Sub-member 5 thus nailed, is bowed slightly, resulting in a snug contact on the spacer I. When the subsequent courses are laid the sub-member 50f the subsequent course contacts the upper surface of the precedin tile as indicated by l1. A course-reference line 18 scored on the ill enables a workman to lay a straight course of tile without stopping to use a chalk line. A result incident to the bowing of member 5, is to make a tight, rigid assembly which prevents blowing. in of water and snow.

After the first. course of sub-members 5 have been laid, a sheet of felt or other similar roofing material 9 is laid over the sub-members 5, to serve as a water seal. This member 9 is wide enough to reach slightly beyond the rear edge of tile l0. f

Tile II] is made of vitreous tile, composition or any suitable material, and of any dimensions. desired. The preferred material is the conventional clay tile molded as shown in Fig. 3. This tile is made with a slabportion, the forward edge being made thick and depending downward from the upper edge and forming a hook H, the inner surface l2 of this hook, being formed at a negative acute angle with respect to the under surface of the tile Ill. This angular surface l2 corresponds to the angle 6 forming the front edge of tapered sub-member 5. Member Ill has holes 13 which are recessed on the upper surface of tile H) as indicated by M, so that the heads of nails l5 will be entirely below the surface of the tile [0, to insure a snug seating of the subsequent courses of sub-member 5.

After the first courseof members 5 has been laid, and the felt roofing strip 9 is in place, the first course of'tile ll! may be laid. When 1aying tiles l0 they are placed on the roofing sheet 9 with the angular edge l2 against the corresponding angular edge 5 of the sub-member 5, and pushed firmly in place before fastening with nails l5 thru holes 13. Space [6 remains after nails I5 have been driven, allowing some resiliency which avoids the cracking of tiles I0 owing to stresses set up in the roof.

An important feature of this invention is the means of abutment of the sub-member 5 by the angular face of tile Ill. The advantage derived from this feature rests with the fact that the sub-members 5 need not be accurate as to thickness. This is an important feature, as close adherence to dimensions increases the cost of tiles and also the cost of the sub-members 5. Variations in thickness, angle or flatness of the tile or sub-member is not critical when using this invention, as the component parts are selfcompensating.

One outstanding advantage of this invention is that the contact of the tile III with the upper surface of sub-member 5 and the angular portion thereof, makes a firm, non-vibrating construction not disclosed in the prior art,

It is the intention to use this invention when covering walls or any analogous use that may occur. The applicant does not intend to limit the use to the specific details disclosed, but reserves the right to vary the design as experience and practice may dictate. Spacer 1 may be omitted if not needed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

'1. A roof construction in combination, a supporting structure, a spacer-member, a wedgeshaped sub-member resting at one extremity upon said spacer member and secured to said supporting structure at the other extremity, the forward end of said sub-member forming an acute angle with upper surface thereof, and sloping inward,

a tile member having a frontal hook portion corresponding to the said forward end of said sub-member and secured to the said supporting structure by nails passing thru said tile member and sub-member.

2. A roof construction comprising a base structure, a sub-member secured to said structure, the front edge of said sub-member forming an acute angle, depending inwardly relatively to the under surface of the said sub-member, and a tile member having a downwardly-depending abutment corresponding to the front edge of said sub-member, said tile member being nailed to said base structure thru said sub-member.

3. A roof construction comprising a supporting structure, a spacenatapered sub-member, one extremity thereof secured to the said structure, the front extremity resting upon said spacer resulting in a wedge-shaped space between said said shingle member placed in supporting structure and said sub-member, the said front extremity of said sub-member forming an acute angle with the upper surface of said sub-member, a layer of asphalt roofing material laid upon said sub-member, a tile roofing member having a hook portion forming an acute angle corresponding to the angle of said front extremity of said sub-member, said tile member placed in close contact with said acute portion of said sub-member and securedto the said supporting structure thru the said sub-member.

4. A wall construction, comprising a supporting wall, a sub-member secured to the said wall, one extremity of said sub-member forming an acute angle with the plane of the surface thereof, a shingle member having a hook-portion forming an internal acute angle substantially corresponding to the acute angle of said sub-member, the contact with said sub-member so that said acute angles coincide, and said shingle member secured to said supporting wall. I v

5. A covering for roofs or walls comprising in combination a sub-member, one extremity of which is formed with an angle less than degrees with the upper surface thereof, and a tile member provided with a downwardly-extending hook portion, the inner face thereof forming an angle less than 90 degrees with the under surface of said tile member, said angle conforming substantially to the corresponding angle of the said sub-member. I

6. A covering for roofs orwalls comprising in combination a sub-member, the plane of one extremity of which is formed at an angle less than 90 degrees with the face ofsaid sub-member, a tile member provided with a downwardly-extending hook portion, the inner face thereof forming an angle less than 90 degrees with the'under surface of said tile member, said angular face conforming substantially to the corresponding angle of the said sub-member and a sheet of roofing material interposed intermediate the said sub-member and said tile member.

VINCENT W. NOONAN. 

